Sunday, May 9, 2010

Abrazo Embraced

Here's the super-gorgeous Abrazo:

Designer: Susanna IC
Yarn: Fiddlesticks Zephyr Lace Wool/Silk
Published in Twist Spring '10

I fell in love with this shawl as soon as I saw it in Twist. I ordered the pattern and was happy to realize that I already had the yarn. It is quick for a shawl, and the dimensions are interesting. It's about 16" tall in the center and wider than my wingspan. The short rows make it stay put when wearing it like a shawl, but it can also be worn as a scarf because of the width of the thing.

The only problem I had was because I ignored the designer's suggestion to use backward loop cast on- because I find it hard to knit the first row, and instead I did long tail cast on. After I cast off the shawl I realized that my cast-on was way too tight, and I PICKED OUT 367 CAST-ON STITCHES, then bound them all off very loosely. Lesson learned. I'm just thankful that my mistake was fixable. It was all worth it.

I noticed that the designer has a similar shawl with a different lace pattern- and I'm very interested in knitting another. It's that cool.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

FO Parade

Leafy Lagoon Vest:

It's a Sweaterbabe pattern, and it couldn't be better written or easier to follow. I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Pattern: #100 Lacy Little Vest
Designer: Sweaterbabe
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Lagoon
Mods: I have several:I added a lot of buttons, I changed the back, as written the pattern has two lace panels on the back. I made the front lace panels symmetrical, and I lowered the back neckline, so it's more of a tank than a vest.

It was considerably smaller before I blocked it. I knit it in a slightly smaller size than I wear because I read on Ravelry about how the yarn sometimes stretches. It turned out to fit perfectly. The yarn is velvety soft and I will definitely knit with it again.
Up next: The Flirt n Flare Skirt. I finished this last spring. It took a long time to knit, and included a 6 month hibernation. I'm oh so happy that I persevered though.

Pattern: Fit-n-Flare Trumpet Skirt
Designer: Joan McGowan-Michael
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy (don't know the color)
Mods: Only changes: I left out the elastic from the waist, and I started the eyelet rows in the front at the bottom, for modesty.
It's pretty see-through anyway, and I want to sew a thin gauzy liner or slip for it. I don't even own a slip, so I wear it with cotton/lycra shorts. I love the way this skirt moves. It's a very flattering shape for most women. And it's ever so comfy in the hottest part of summer, it's like wearing nothing.
Finally, My Blue Heaven:

Pattern:97-18 Tailored Cardigan
Designer: Drops
Yarn: Home-dyed Ultra Alpaca by Berroco
Mods: I know I changed a few things, but I no longer remember what they were. This isn't the most flattering picture, but I love this cardi, I wear it all the time in winter. I love the way the yarn turned out too.
My WIPS update: I have both sleeves done for Que Sera and the body about 10 rows in.
Abrazo: I just have to cast-off and block. YAY!